Former President of the Republic of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was ousted by the military on the 26 July 2023.
The coup was led by General Abdulrahamane Tchiani.
Bazuom succeeded Mahamadou Issoufou of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism as the democratically elected president in 2022.
Currently, Tchiani is the chairman of the National Council for the safeguard of the homeland, while his deputy is General Salifou Modi.
General Abdou Sidikou Issa is the Chief of Army Staff as Abdoulaye Seydou is the leaer of the M62 Sacred Union for the Safeguard of the Sovereignty of the People.
Tchiani only commands the Presidential Guard, not the entire Army.
Modi, a former chief of Army Staff, was eased out of power by Mohammed Bazoum after Bazoum posted him to the United Arab Emirates as an ambassador. As a result, General Abduo Sidikou Issa replaced him as COAS.
Some political commentators have often predicted that another insurrection would take place, claiming there is no unity among the coup leaders.
On July 8, 2023, the junta appointed a former Minister of Economy, Ali Lamine Zeine, as a transitional Prime Minister.
Former President, Mahamadou Issoufou, wanted to limit Bazoum’s influence because he thought he was trying to take total control of the system by throwing his protégé, Salifou Modi out of government by sending him to the UAE.
Issoufou wanted to use Tchiani as a check on Bazoum, but Tchiani saw an opportunity to capture power, and he orchestrated a coup, and he therefore defied his former boss.
The Niger military structure was full of Issoufou’s loyalists.
The French have always maintained a robust domination on Niger currency and economy.
Mahamadou Issoufou brought Bazoum, who is an Arab, a minority ethnic group in Niger to power in order to continue to have a strong influence and manoeuvre behind the scenes. But a wise Bazoum reneged and started building his own Army by removing the then COAS and later offered him an ambassadorial appointment to represent Niger in UAE.
Issoufou, during his terms as president, did not oppose the French interests, but Bazoum, in his rhetorics, was trying to go outside the orbit.
The ousted president was battling two forces, which eventually led to his ouster – he was not in good term with the French colonial master and his godfather, Mahamadou Issoufou.
The French government would have preferred a situation where Issoufou remains dominant and Bazoum is still the president.
The military junta has, on Thursday, August 10 announced the appointment of 21 ministers to paddle the affairs of the country.
The ethnic makeup of the Republic of Niger is as follows:
1. Hausa 53.1%
2. Zabarma Songhai 21.2%
3. Fulani 6.5%
5. Kanuri 5.9%
6. Arab 2.3%
Other 11.0%
